The future of railroads and a railroad ferry line were the subject of hearings conducted in Cheboygan on this date in 1964, with state Attorney General Frank Kelley and U.S. Rep. Victor Knox of the Soo overseeing things.

The economic future of Northern Michigan was hinged to the hearings, which were opened before Interstate Commerce Commission Examiner Hyman Blond.

At issue was the reduction of freight service by two railroads and the railroad ferry line. Dr. Carl Rauch, mayor of Cheboygan, said, "The abandonment of all railroad service to Cheboygan undoubtedly would have dealt a serious blow to our existing industry while ... paralyzing our efforts to stimulate industrial growth."

Kelley promised surprises would arise in the hearings, and sprang his first one when he announced that the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad admitted that it would lose money if the abandonments that it had requested would be granted.

"What then," Kelley asked, "has motivated the railroads to apply for abandonments that would financially injure each and every one of them? If the problem is a disagreement among the railroads as to the proper way to operate the ferry, then that problem should be resolved among themselves through negotiation or other means, not through abandonment of the ferry."